Gearing.



W.- H. GEORGE.

(BEARING. v APPLICATiON FILED HAYS. 19H.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- lp wmwn W. H. GEORGE.

vBEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1917.

L253U Qh Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- tlhll'l'ttll g l itldldl m PATEN in,

WILLIAM H. GEORGE, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEXTER COMPANY,OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF'IOWA.

GEARING.

Application filed May 31, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H; GEORGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,and a resident of Fairfield, in the county of J eiferson and State of10W, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gearing; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had' to the accompanying drawings,andto the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in gearing particularly adaptedfor actuating the operating shafts of power-driven clothes washingmachinesof the pounder type and consists of the matters hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims. l

The gearing is illustrated herein as applied to whatis known to thetrade as a bench washenandin the case of the particular machine shown,there are provided two washing machines arranged side by side, with ahorizontally disposed power shaft located between the tubs of saidwashing machines. Said power shaft is operatively connected to alongitudinally extending, drive shaft journaled in the top of thewashing machine tubs and arranged at a right angle to saidpower shaft,the drive shaft itself being operatively connected through suitablemeans to the operating shafts, one

of which is journaled in the lid of each tub.

The means betweenthe drive shaft and'the operating shafts are soarranged that when the tub lids are in their normally closed, horizontalposition, they will be actuated from the drive shaft, andif either orboth of said tub lids carrying; the. operating shafts, are raised toanopen, substantially upright position, the operative connection betweenthe drive shaft and operating shaft or shafts will be automaticallydisengaged or broken.

The many advantages of my improved gearing will more fully appear as Iproceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l illustratesa top planview of. a

bench washer provided with my improved gearing.

Fig. Qillustrates aview in sideelevation of said bench washer, severalof, the parts of the gearing beingillustrated in section to more clearlyshow the structure thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. d, 191%.

Serial No. 171,823

Fig. 3 illustrates a partial transverse vertical section through one ofthe washing machine tubs, the plane of the section being indicated bythe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4L illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a detail, transverse,vertical sectional view through the drive, shaft and associated parts,

the plane ofthe section being indicated by the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a clutch actuating sleeve whichwill be more fully referred to later.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings :10 indicates a bench adapted to support twowashing machine tubs, arranged side by side. At one sideof the benchislocated a hinged platformll which may be raised or swung into thehorizontal plane of the top of the bench, said platform havingfolding'legs 12 which are adapted to provide support therefor when inraised position.

13, 13 indicate the washing machine tubs which are of familiarconstruction. Each tub has a lid lat hinged to a longitudinallyextending board15 which forms the stationary top of both tubs. Saidstationary top and said tub lids l e-provide a main support and thesupplemental supports respectively for the gearing. A transverselyextending board or platform 16 is arranged between and is attached toboth washing machine tubs '13,- in the plane of the board or sta tionarytop or wall15 and the tub lids 1 t, said platform abutting at one endagainst said stationary top.

17 indicates a transversely extending power shaft which is journalcd in,suitable bearings 18, fixed to the stationary top wall 15 and theplatform 16 respectively, in a plane between the tubs 13, 13. A pulley19 is secured to that end of-the shaft which projects beyond the outeredge of said top wall andsaid pulley may be driven from any suitablesource of'power.

20 indicates a longitudinally extending, horizontalshaft, arranged in aplane above saidtop wall and preferably nearer that edge to which thetub lids are hinged; Said shaft is journaled between its ends in uprightarms 22, 23fiXed to the stationary top wall 15 and the tub lids 14C,14-, respectively, adjacent the platform 16, said arms and shaft forminga part of the hinged connection between the tubs 13 as a whole iii) andtheir associated lids l4. Midway between the upright hinge arms 22, 23,there is fixed to the shaft 20 a comparatively large, spiral gear 21which extends at its bottom part through a slot in the top wall or boardto mesh with a smaller spiral gear 17 fixed on the power shaft 17. Agear casing 24 which has a flanged base secured to the board 15 andplatform 16, respectively, incloses the gear 21 and protects both thegear against damages and the operator or other persons against injury.

The extreme ends of the shaft are journaled in bearing sleeves formed inthe top ends of upright arms 27, 28, which are made integral withbracket plates 29, fixed to the top wall 15 and the tub lids 14respectively. Associated with the bracket plates 29 and 30 are meansoperatively connecting the shaft 20 with the operating shaft of each tuband as such means are the same with respect to both tubs, with theexception of being rights and lefts, a description of the meansassociated with but one operating shaft will sufllce for both.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 20 near the arm 28 of the bracket plate 30is a spiral gear 30 having a hub 31.. One end of said hub abuts againstthe arm 28 and the other end of said hub issomewhat elongated and hasradial clutch teeth 32. This last mentioned hub end is journalecl inbearing sleeves formed in the top ends of upright arms 27, 28, also madeintegral with the bracket plates 29 and 30 respectively, said arms 27 28being spaced from the before-men tioned arms 27, 28 of said bracketplates. The bracket plate 30 which is fixed to the tub lid 14, normallyoverlaps the stationary top wall 15, and is formed between its arms 28,28 to provide a casing 33 inclosing the gear 30. Said casing togetherwith a cap piece 34 provides bearing for one end of a comparativelyshort, horizontal shaft 35 arranged in a plane above and at a rightangle to the shaft 20, the other end of said shaft being journaled in asleeve formed on the top end of a standard 36 rising from said bracketplate near its inner end.

Fixed to that end of the shaft 35 within the casing 34 is a spiral gear37 which meshes with the like gear 30" on the shaft 20. The other end ofsaid shaft 35 terminates in a plane adjacent the vertical axis of theassociated tub and there has fixed to it a crank arm 38. This crank armhas a socket in which is located a spherical member or ball 39 which hasa diametrically extending hole through it.

A horizontally disposed radial arm 40 which is fixed to an uprightoperating shaft 41, extends through the hole in the ball 39. Theoperating shaft 41 depends through the tub lid 14 into the interior ofthe tub 13 and has a pounder head 41 at that end withinthe tub. Saidshaft is capable of vertically reciprocatory, alternating rotarymovement in vertically spaced bearing sleeves made integral with anupright hearing bracket 42 fixed to the tub lid 14 about the axisthereof.

On the shaft 20 adjacent and associated with the clutch. teeth 32 on thehub 31 of the gear 30 is an elongated clutch collar 45 which isrotatively fixed with respect to said shaft but which is capable ofendwise movement there-on. To provide for this connection, said clutchcollar has'longitudinal slots 46 into which the ends of a pin 47 carriedby the shaft, extends. One end of the clutch collar has clutch teethadapted to engage with and be disengaged from the like teeth 32 on thegear hub 31. The other end of the clutch collar has a radial flange orshoulder 48. A coiled expansion spring 49 surrounds the shaft 20 betweenthe clutch collar 45 and a pin 50 on said shaft, said spring normallytending to hold said clutch collar in engagement with the clutch teeth32. I

It is apparent from the foregoing description that when the driven shaft20 is rotated, this rotative movement is transmitted through the clutchcollar 45 to the gear 30 and from said gear to the gear 37 on thehorizontal shaft 35, therotative movement of said last mentioned shaftbeing translated into a vertically reciprocating, alternating rotarymovement of the operating shaft 41, through the crank arm 38 and radialarm 40.

A sleeve 5O (see Fig. 5) is loosely mount ed on the clutch collar 45with one end abutting against the adjacent bearing sleeve on the bracketarm 27. The other end of said sleeve is formed to provide a radialshoulder 51 which engages the radial flange 48 on said clutch collar. Asshown, the shoulder end of said sleeve has an annular flange whichincloses the radial flange on said clutch collar 45. A spiral rib 52 isformed on said sleeve which is normally engaged by a laterally extendinglug 53 formed on the adjacent upright arm 28 of the bracket 30 fixed tothe tub lid. This rib terminates at the smaller end of the sleeve 50 ina shoulder 54 which is engaged by the lug 53 of the bracket 30 after thetub lid has been. swung into a substantially upright open position-andarrests the same in said open position. The sleeve 50" has alongitudinal rib 55 on its bottom side which engages in a groove 56fixed with respect to the stationary top wall or board 15. As shown inthis particular instance, said groove is provided for in a block 57fixed t0 the stationary top wall or board vertically below the shaft 20.Thus when the lid 14 is raised or swung about the shaft 20 as its hingedaxis, the lug 53 on the bracket 30 will, through its engagement with thespiral rib 53, push or move said sleeve longitudinally. outward, saidsleeve being held, against rotative, but not endwise movement by reasonof the engagement of its rib 55'With'the groove 56 in the block 57. Assaid sleeve moves longitudinally away from the bracket 29, it will carrywith it, through the engagement between the radial shoulders 48and51,the clutch collar tdthus disengag ing said clutch collar, andincidentally the shaft 20, from the gear hub 31. The spiral rib 52 onthe" sleeve 50 is so formed that as the tub lid is swunginto an openposition,

the clutch collar isalmost instantaneously disengaged from the gearfhubclutch teeth 32, the gears 30? and 37 always rema ning n mesh. WVhe ithe tub lid has beenswung into its full open; position, the laterallug53 on the bracket 30 will engagethe' shoulder 54 on the sleeve fiO andhold or support the tub Iidinsaid open position, the gear 37 stillremaining'in mesh withthe gear 8O which is now loose with respect totheshaft 20! "Asthe tub'lid is again swung into its closed horizontal posi'tion', the spring5i9will,

through the radialshoiilde'rs 48 and 51 be fore mentioned, returirthesleeve 5O; to its initial, normal position and 'with it, of conrse,theclutch collar 45'into engagement withtheclutch teeth 32' on the gearhub31.

The power shaft 17 is extended inwardly beneath the platform 16 towardthe swinging platform 11, wheresuitable gearing is providedforactuatinga Wringer GO mounted' upon the associated end of the platform 16, saidwringer bei'ng'ca pable of a swinging movementin a horizontal plane"into any desired posit on to accommodate the needs of theoperator.Asthemechanism for driving the wrm'g'er forms no part of the presentinvention, detailed description thereof is thought -unnecessary.

My improved gearing possesses many advantages:lVhen eitherof the tublids 14:

is swung into an open position, the operating shaft il thereof, isdisconnected from the' driving influence of the driving shaft 20. Thebrackets 29 and '30 togetherwith the' sleeves 50*"inclosethelinoviiigparts in such manner as to guard theoperator against an possible inui-y. The gear ng comprises but a few parts which may be inade light inweight, yet capable of w thstanding the supplemental support,

to beraised into a substantially upright position, a driven shaftjournaledon said main support, a clutch member loosely mounted on saidshaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplemental support andoperatively.

connected to said clutch member, a second clutch member keyed to saiddriven shaft and normally engaged with said first mentioned clutchmember, and means on said supplemental support associated with one ofsaid clutch'members adapted in the raising movement of said supplementalsupport to disengage the associated clutch member from the other clutchmember.

Iii'a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support,:1 normally horizontal supplemental support, a' clutch member looselymounted on 'saidshaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplementalsupportand operatively connected to said clutch member, a secondclutchmember keyed tosaid driven shaft and normally engaged withsaidfirst mentioned clutch member, a shiftable, non-rotative sleeve engagedwith the clutch member keyed to said drivenshaft, means on saidsupplemental support engaging said sleeve and adapted in the raisingmovement of said supplemental support to impart an endwise movement to"said sleeve and associated clutch member to disengage said associatedclutch member from the, other clutch member, and means operating duringthe lowering movement of said supplemental support to operativelyconnect the clutch member keyed to the driven shaft to the clutchmemberloose on said driven shaft.

In a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support,a normally horizontal supplemental support hinged to said main supportand adapted to beraised nto, a substantially upright posi-,

tion, a drivenshaft journaled on said main su gp ort, a clutch memberloosely mounted on said shaft, an operating shaft journaled in saidsupplementalsupport and operatively connected to said clutchimember, asecond clutcli,,menil?61 keyed, to said driven shaft, a springnormallyholding said keyed clutch member in engagement with said looseclutch member, a sleeve mounted on said keyed clutch member, a spiralrib on said sleeve, and means on said supplemental supportnormallyengaged with the spiral rib, onsaid sleeve, said means beingadapted iii-the raising movement of'said supplemental support to imparta shifting movement. to said sleeve 125 and associated clutch member onsaid shaft, to disengage said clutch member from the loose clutch memberon said shaft, against the action of said spring, said spring returningsaid sleeve and clutch member to I support hinged to said main supportand adapted 'tobe raised into a substantially upright position, a drivenshaft journaled on said main their normal positions during the loweringmovement of said supplemental support.

l. In a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a mainsupport, a normally horizontal supplemental support hinged to said mainsupport and adapted to be raised into a substantially upright position,coacting bracket plates on said main and on said supplemental supports,a driven shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets and shaftforming the hinged connection between said main and said supplementalsupports, a clutch member loosely mounted on said shaft, an operatingshaft journaled in said supplemental support and operatively connect edto said clutch member, a second clutch member keyed to said driven shaftand normally engaged with said loose clutch member, a sleeve mounted onsaid keyed clutch member, a spiral rib on said sleeve, a lug on thebracket on said supplemental support normally engaged with said sleeverib and adapted in the raising movement of said supplemental support toshift said sleeve and associated clutch member longitudinally on saidshaft to disengage said keyed clutch member from the other clutchmember, and a coiled spring mounted 011 said shaft and adapted to shiftsaid keyed clutch member into engagement with the loose clutch memberwhen said supplemental support is again lowered into its horizontalposition.

In a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support,a normally horizontal supplemental support hinged to said main supportand adapted to be raised into a substantially upright position, enactingbracket plates on said main and on said supplemental supports, a drivenshaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets and shaft forming thehinged connection between said main and said supplemental supports, aclutch member loosely mounted on said shaft, an operating shaftjournaled in said supplemental support and operatively connected to saidclutch member, a second clutch member keyed to said driven shaft andnormally engaged with said lose clutch member, a sleeve loosely mountedon said keyed clutch member, a spiral rib and a longitudinal rib on saidsleeve, a lug on said bracket on said supplemental support normallyengaged with the said sleeve spiral rib and adapted in the raisingmovement of said supplemental support to shift said sleeve andassociated clutch member longitudinally on said shaft to disengage thesaid keyed clutch member from the other clutch member, a

block on said main support having a groove adapted to receive thelongitudinal rib on said sleeve and a colledsprmg on said shaftcombination with a main support, two hori zontal supplemental supportshinged to said mainsupport to swing about horizontally alined axes intoa substantially upright position, a longitudinally extendingdrivenshaft, co-acting upright hinge arms to said main support and tosaid supplemental supports and in which said driven shaft isjournaled,co-acting brackets on said main support and on saidsupplemental supports having upright arms also providing bearing forsaid driven shaft, gear clutch members looselymounted on'said shaftbetween the upright arms of said brackets, an operating shaft journaledin each of said supplemental supports, means operatively connecting saidoperating shafts with the clutch gears on said driven shaft, clutchmembers keyed to said shaft and normally held in engagement with thegear clutch members on said shaft, a sleeve on each of said keyed clutchmembers, said sleeve having a spiral rib and a longitudinally extendingrib, lugs on each bracket on said supplemental supports adapted toengage with the spiral rib on said sleeve, blocks having groovesfixed tosaid main support, said grooves being adapted to receive thelongitudinal ribs on said sleeves and prevent rotative movement butpermitting longitudinal movement of said sleeves, laterally extendinglugs on said brackets on said supplemental support-s adapted to engagethe spiral rib on said sleeves, said lugs on said supplemental supportsbeing adapted to impart an endwise movement to said sleeves and to saidclutch members when said supplemental supports are swung about saiddriven shaft as an axis into a substantially upright position, andsprings mounted on said shaft and associated with each of said clutchmembers, said springs being adapted to move said clutch members intoengagement with the gear clutch members when said supplemental supportsare again swung into their normal horizontal positions.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I 'afiix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this 24 day of April A. D.1917.

WILLIAM H. GEORGE.

lVitnesses EDMUND vrHUNT, IRVING H. DUNN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissidner of Patentg Washington, D. C.

